Soldier On!
{{Infobox song
| name = Soldier On!
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Megadeth
| album = The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!
| released = August 12, 2022
| recorded = 2019–2021
| genre = {{hlist|Thrash metal{{cite web |last1=Kennelty |first1=Greg |title=MEGADETH Streams Swingin' New Single "Soldier On!" |url=https://metalinjection.net/av/new-music/megadeth-streams-swingin-new-single-soldier-on |website=Metal Injection |access-date=13 September 2022}}|groove metal{{cite web |last1=Hadusek |first1=Jon |title=Heavy Consequence New Music Releases Megadeth Unleash Crushing New Song "Soldier On!" |url=https://consequence.net/2022/08/megadeth-soldier-on-stream/ |website=Consequences.net |publisher=Consequences heavy |access-date=14 September 2022}}}}
| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=54}}
| label = Tradecraft/Universal
| writer = * Dave Mustaine
| producer = * Dave Mustaine
- Chris Rakestraw
| prev_title = Night Stalkers
| prev_year = 2022
| year = 2022
| next_title = The Sick, the Dying... and The Dead!
| next_year = 2022
| misc =
| format =
}}
"Soldier On!" is a song by American thrash metal band Megadeth. It was released as the third single from their sixteenth studio album, The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! on August 12, 2022.{{cite web |last1=DiVita |first1=Joe |title=Megadeth 'Soldier On!' With Ultra Catchy Third Song Off 'The Sick, The Dying... and the Dead!' | url=https://loudwire.com/megadeth-soldier-on-song-lyrics/ |website=Loudwire |access-date=13 September 2022}}{{cite web |title=SOLDIER ON! NEW SINGLE OUT NOW |url=https://megadeth.com/news/2022/soldier-on-new-single-out-now/ |website=Megadeth.com |access-date=13 September 2022}} It is more mid-tempo and melodic than other songs on the album,{{cite web |title=MEGADETH Shares New Single 'Soldier On!' |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/megadeth-shares-new-single-soldier-on |website=Blabbermouth |access-date=14 September 2022}} and contains some elements of groove metal.{{cite web |last1=Hadusek |first1=Jon |title=Heavy Consequence New Music Releases Megadeth Unleash Crushing New Song "Soldier On!" |url=https://consequence.net/2022/08/megadeth-soldier-on-stream/ |access-date=14 September 2022 |website=Consequences.net |publisher=Consequences heavy}}
Music and lyrics
"Soldier On!" features much military imagery, both in the lyrics, and in the official visualizer.{{cite web |last1=Aubrey |first1=Elizabeth |title=Megadeth share thundering new single 'Soldier On!' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/megadeth-share-thundering-new-single-soldier-on-3288640 |website=NME |access-date=14 September 2022}}{{cite web |title=Megadeth - Soldier On! (Visualizer) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5M8K2Jm2bE |website=Youtube |access-date=14 September 2022}}
In an interview with Kerrang, frontman Dave Mustaine said: "Is Soldier On! a song about war? No. It's about how you need to be brave when walking away from a relationship. It's like that Irish poem about turning your collar up against the wind and having the sun shine on your face. It's about being in that relationship, knowing that something is not right, and understanding that you need to leave."{{cite magazine|last=Law |first=Sam |title=Megadeth: Dave Mustaine's track-by-track guide to The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead! |url=https://www.kerrang.com/megadeth-dave-mustaines-track-by-track-guide-to-the-sick-the-dying-and-the-dead |magazine=Kerrang |access-date=13 September 2022}}
"Coming to the realization that you need to walk away from a relationship that's very toxic, and how hard it can be to start down that road. But you know you need to, and just taking that first step is the hardest part," comments Mustaine, "Whatever your leaving does to them, you have to block that part out, stay the course and do what's right for you. It will be hard in the beginning, but you have got to live for yourself to be worth a damn to anyone else. You've got to Soldier On!"{{Cite web |last=DiVita |first=Joe|title=Megadeth 'Soldier On!' With Ultra Catchy Third Song Off New Album |url=https://loudwire.com/megadeth-soldier-on-song-lyrics/ |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=Loudwire |language=en}}
The ending of the music video features a military foot drill, which features service members from Fort Campbell.{{cite web |last1=Horsley |first1=Jonathan |title=Megadeth show us their war face on precision-riffing new single Soldier On! |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/news/megadeth-soldier-on |website=Guitar World |access-date=14 September 2022}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (2022)
! Peak |
|---|
| {{singlechart|Billboardmainstreamrock|31|artist=Megadeth}} |
Personnel
Megadeth
- Dave Mustaine – lead and rhythm guitar, lead vocals, additional bass{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/dave-mustaine-on-david-ellefson-the-guy-that-i-know-and-love-was-a-different-person|title=Dave Mustaine On David Ellefson: 'The Guy That I Know And Love Was A Different Person'|date=August 31, 2022|access-date=September 3, 2022|work=Blabbermouth.net}}
- Kiko Loureiro – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Dirk Verbeuren – drums
Additional musicians
- Steve Di Giorgio – bass
- Brandon Ray – additional vocals
- Eric Darken – percussion
- Roger Lima – keyboards and effects
- John Clement – voices
- The Marching Metal Bastards – voices
Production
- Dave Mustaine – co-production, engineering, art concept
- Chris Rakestraw – co-production, engineering
- Lowell Reynolds – assistant engineering
- Maddie Harmon – assistant engineering
- Rick West – drum technician
- Josh Wilbur – mixing
- Ted Jensen – mastering
References
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5M8K2Jm2bE Music video]
{{Megadeth}}